492 
A REMARKABLE FINCH. — FALCONS' CLAWS. 
31 July, 
and singular bird, of the, finch tribe, distinguished from all which inhabit 
the southern point of Africa, by the disproportionate length of its tail, 
together with the remarkable circumstance, of having this tail only in 
summer, at which season it is black ; but in winter it is brown, and not 
longer than the common proportion of all other birds of that tribe. 
The wings are black, but the body undergoes the same annual mutation 
of color as the tail. In its full dress it is entirely of a deep black, ex- 
cepting the shoulders which are orange-coloured or scarlet, and the 
margins of the wing-feathers which are white. Though but a small bird, 
it measures in length above twenty-one inches, of which the tail takes 
nearly sixteen. On account of this length of tail, it appears at that 
season to fly with difficulty, and is then generally seen on the ground 
or among the bushes. During the rain, and while its feathers are 
wet, it is scarcely able to fly at all ; and it is a common opinion 
among the Hottentots, that it may then be easily taken with the 
hand : but no instance of this fact ever occurred within my own 
knowledge. The Bachapins call it nuenjdnni (nuenyanni) muldapo or 
' river-bird,' as it usually frequents the banks of rivers or reedy 
valleys. The Dutch colonists have named it Kaffers-vink (Caffre- 
finch) *, as it is found chiefly at the eastern extremity of the colony 
and in the country of the CafFres. 
A species of falcon f called ^nchi, was now shot for the first time 
on the journey. As several boys were accompanying Speelman, he 
gave it to one of them for the purpose of carrying it : but it narrowly 
escaped being utterly spoiled, as he accidentally and fortunately 
happened to turn his eye towards them, just at the moment when 
they were preparing to cut off the claws. These 1 have observed to 
be a favorite ornament with the children of Litakun, and are worn, 
either hanging round their neck, or affixed to their hair. 
* See the note [J] at page 20. of the first volume, 
f Le Rounoir, of Le Vaill. Ois. d'Afr. pi. 16. 
A particular account of the ornithology of Litakun and the vicinity, is here omitted, 
as it pertains more properly to a later period of the journal. 
